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“Feeling angry, feeling shaky and on edge all the time, not feeling patient when you are waiting in queues, headaches and blurred vision are all signs of stress,” Dr Robertson said.

“You might feel a bit like everyone is against you, like you are in a fight or flight situation.”

In the longer term stress can cause headaches, an upset stomach, high blood pressure, chest pain and trouble sleeping.

It has even been linked to diabetes, caused by elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood.

“The financial pressure people put on themselves by buying that supposed bargain with all the debt that they are going to amass over the Christmas period, that can lead to longer term stress as well,” Dr Roberston added.

“If your cortisol levels are raised because you are always stressed then it increases your risk of diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, kidney problems.”

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A recent study, published in the Lancet, found that stress could be as dangerous for the heart as smoking and high blood pressure.

Researchers, from Harvard University, found that when we are stressed the area of the brain that deals with stress, the amygdala, tells our bone marrow to produce more white blood cells.

This can cause our arteries to become inflammed, which can increase our risk of heart attack and stroke.

But, lets face it, you’d have to be incredibly stressed in order for your blood pressure to reach levels damaging to your health.

And who has time to get that stressed over shopping?

If you do find yourself getting too stressed out though, there are a few things you can do to calm yourself down.

Studies have found that mindfulness techniques can help reduce stress and improve your mood.

Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment and your thoughts and feelings to help calm you down.